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Karlo is our starting center
Posted on 7/17/24 at 12:11 am
Posted on 7/17/24 at 12:11 am
Barring a trade for a center with BI as the centerpiece, which Griff just said is not “mechanically” possible now, Karlo Matkovic is our best hope at starting center to begin the season. He’s a stretch 5 that will create more space on offense than JV did, and he is a quicker player on defense.
We just don’t have anybody else on the roster to fit the role of starting center. Missi is way too raw and lacks the necessary bulk. Theis is 6’8” and has been a role player for most of his 7-year career; we can’t expect him to suddenly morph into a starting-caliber center in year 8.
Let the Karlo Krazies rejoice!
We just don’t have anybody else on the roster to fit the role of starting center. Missi is way too raw and lacks the necessary bulk. Theis is 6’8” and has been a role player for most of his 7-year career; we can’t expect him to suddenly morph into a starting-caliber center in year 8.
Let the Karlo Krazies rejoice!
4
Posted on 7/17/24 at 12:41 am to Spec
If Karlo is our starting center, our ceiling is losing in the 9/10 Play In Game against the Houston Rockets.
This post was edited on 7/17/24 at 12:43 am
Posted on 7/17/24 at 1:23 am to Spec
He looked legit tonight. Beautiful 3 point stroke when the defense left him and some pretty post moves, finishing with his left and right. He also looked very athletic, he picked up a steal and dunked it on the other end all while taking 2 dribbles, very fluid. He looks like he can slot next to Zion quite well..
Posted on 7/17/24 at 1:56 am to 3PieceSpicy
To write him off or hype him up are both stupid things to do. No one knows how he will play when he gets real NBA minutes. He could be a bum and he could be exactly what we need. He certainly has the physical tools and seems to have a good attitude. He seems to me like he could be a better version of what Nance did
Posted on 7/17/24 at 3:13 am to PrayingMantis
I’m doing neither. I think he’s probably a fine backup most nights, similar to a healthy Nance. We still have a hole and need another big that can actually rebound and bang with all the big centers in the league for 20 mins a night.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 6:25 am to Spec
Neither teams in this years nba finals had a real dominant center offensively so why do you fools think we need Karlo to score 20 a game ? lol trust me he can do whatever Al horford at 46 years old can do
Posted on 7/17/24 at 6:28 am to Pelican707
It’s not about the opposing center scoring a thousand points. It’s about Derrick Lively giving ten more shots to Luka. Good luck with that formula.
But I would love to see Karlo become a rotational big off the bench. We have really needed more bench size. He definitely sees and gets the game, I’ll give him that.
But I would love to see Karlo become a rotational big off the bench. We have really needed more bench size. He definitely sees and gets the game, I’ll give him that.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 8:30 am to PELsu
Zion is our finishing Center, and that is all that matters.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 8:32 am to Spec
Love what I am seeing from him, but I would pencil in Theis there until we see how Karlo does in camp.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 12:52 pm to saints5021
quote:
Zion is our finishing Center, and that is all that matters
Then our finishing center has a 8’7” standing reach, which is decent for an NBA SF, and is a mediocre rebounder…. he’s amazing at other things, but those 2 are an issue at C.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 2:07 pm to BamaPelican
I think the notion of us having a "staring center" is a misconception. Zion will be our "starting" 5, on the court with CJ (or Trey), BI, Herb & Murray. They will play the best 5 players that are all switchable on D, except for CJ.
Karlo (& Theis) will be taking the backup 5 minutes, unless Yves' growth this year is beyond what could reasonably be expected. We will give up some on D down low and rebounding, but force the other team's bigs to cover Z or one of our "wings." That should be a mismatch. Will it work? Dunno. But barring a BI trade, I think that is more likely than not the strategy.
Karlo (& Theis) will be taking the backup 5 minutes, unless Yves' growth this year is beyond what could reasonably be expected. We will give up some on D down low and rebounding, but force the other team's bigs to cover Z or one of our "wings." That should be a mismatch. Will it work? Dunno. But barring a BI trade, I think that is more likely than not the strategy.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 2:23 pm to BamaPelican
quote:
Then our finishing center has a 8’7” standing reach, which is decent for an NBA SF, and is a mediocre rebounder…. he’s amazing at other things, but those 2 are an issue at C.
You know what's not an issue for him playing center? Being 285lbs and the heaviest/strongest guy in the league.
Doesn't matter if you're standing reach is 8'7" or 9" if you don't have the body to absorb the contact, well, i'd say that for the average guy, not guys like Wemby/Chet who's standing reach is ridiculous.
Zion's weight is such an extreme, especially considering how quick he still is at that weight, it's similar to the extreme of skinny Chet and Wemby having 9'7" standing reaches. Use your extreme to your advantage and you can defend down low against anyone.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 3:03 pm to TeddyPadillac
quote:
Zion's weight is such an extreme, especially considering how quick he still is at that weight, it's similar to the extreme of skinny Chet and Wemby having 9'7" standing reaches. Use your extreme to your advantage and you can defend down low against anyone.
You’re technically right but Zion knows how to use weight on offense only. Ive never seen him properly use his weight or strength in a defensive manner- instead he ends up drawing more fouls. Its something Draymond did very well and defensively was able to play small ball 5. If Zion plays the 5, he needs to learn how to do this but I’ve never seen him do it.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 4:17 pm to Pels_Yaz
quote:
If Zion plays the 5, he needs to learn how to do this but I’ve never seen him do it.
He did just fine against Sabonis, who was trying to bully him and couldn't.
But I agree he needs to learn how to use it the right way defensively in the post.
If he can do this, that is how we win a championship, b/c if Zion can effectively play the 5 against opposing teams 5's, it gives us a huge mismatch on offense, or it forces them to go small with us, and when there isn't rim protection in the game, Zion typically scores at will.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 4:19 pm to TeddyPadillac
quote:
He did just fine against Sabonis, who was trying to bully him and couldn't.
I mean could be wrong but honestly thought JV was the one who controlled Sabonis defensively in most of the games not Zion. Sabonis is also undersized as well.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 6:07 pm to Pels_Yaz
Yup JV was huge against the Sabonis and Sengun types that gave problems to the rest of the league, but not us as much due to Jonas’s strength and ability to make them work on both ends. Colossal L letting Jonas go for nothing. The only way to make up for it is to use that TPE and get Kessler. WCJ is also a piece we should consider, but Kessler is more of what we need imo.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 8:07 pm to 3PieceSpicy
I like Karlo, but I still think there will be a deal before the season for another big. Missi should go the G-League to start the year. Theis and Matkovic will give you similar skills, which I value in a big, but not sure either should start games. People laugh, but I think JRE can give some minutes. He's 6'9" 240 and plays with a strong base. Plus, he went to 'Nova.
I'm actually not that worried about any of those guys defensively against guys like Sabonis or Sengun. I think they have enough size. I'm not sure any of them are good enough on the boards though. Pels need to have a come to Jesus talk with all the starters about team rebounding unless we get a more traditional big before the season...
I'm actually not that worried about any of those guys defensively against guys like Sabonis or Sengun. I think they have enough size. I'm not sure any of them are good enough on the boards though. Pels need to have a come to Jesus talk with all the starters about team rebounding unless we get a more traditional big before the season...
Posted on 7/17/24 at 8:53 pm to New City Champ
quote:
Pels need to have a come to Jesus talk with all the starters about team rebounding
It still might not be enough, but the potential is there.
Murray was a near Josh Hart level rebounder in San Antonio. That should help.
Zion can do better when he's fit, especially if Murray is taking some of the offensive creation load.
Trey showed he can rebound more when his parents get in his ear about it. Pre All Star Break he was at 5.2 rebounds per 36. Post ASB he was at 6.6
Posted on 7/17/24 at 9:32 pm to TigerinATL
Trey is a good defensive rebounder. He was stacking them up when BI went down late in the season.
Posted on 7/17/24 at 9:38 pm to TigerinATL
I like Matkovic as a forward and not a center, dude is a power forward that moves really well without the ball, and has a nice jump shot from outside. He can play center as a backup giving the starting center rest, but to me his skill set is more suited to forward, even some small forward because he's that athletic. They F'ed up by not re-signing Valanciunus.
This post was edited on 7/17/24 at 9:42 pm
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